View Full Version : Can't flush DNS
uncle_fester
2009-03-20, 01:27
Occasionally I have to run an ipconfig /flushdns in order to periodically clear out the DNS cache, but ever since I started using Spybot, I noticed this has been disabled due to the lookup entries in there being also located on the hosts file that Spybot has created under %Systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc
Is there any way around this, or is this the trade off for using Spybot?
No way around it,unless you removed the hosts file part of Spybot's immunization,apparently.
Please see here. :)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc781949.aspx
Resetting the cache does not eliminate entries that are preloaded from the local Hosts file. To eliminate those entries from the cache, remove them from this file. For more information, see Related Topics.
But,the host file part of immunization helps to protect your computer from reaching bad sites,so removing that part of immunization might not be worth it,imo.
As shown in the "fourth level of protection" part of this post:
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=281
uncle_fester
2009-03-20, 03:53
No way around it,unless you removed the hosts file part of Spybot's immunization,apparently.
Please see here. :)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc781949.aspxGee, not sure why you posted this. I already know the command. Been using it for years, unless there's something else on that page I'm missing.
But,the host file part of immunization helps to protect your computer from reaching bad sites,so removing that part of immunization might not be worth it,imo.
As shown in the "fourth level of protection" part of this post:
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=281How about if I open the Spybot hosts file with notepad and then save it as a .txt file. Then select the "read only" attribute for it so it won't be altered? Then delete the original hosts file leaving the .txt hosts file I just saved, in it's place?
I know at one time when I was saving .txt hosts files in that location, I was able to flush dns and still have the protection from the .txt host file at the same time. Can this be done without losing protection?
Any help from you (or anybody else) would be most appreciated, thanks.
I posted the website,to show you where I got my quote from,not to show you the ipconfig /flushdns command. :)
Resetting the cache does not eliminate entries that are preloaded from the local Hosts file. To eliminate those entries from the cache, remove them from this file. For more information, see Related Topics.
If you rename the Hosts file to Hosts.txt permanently,you will lose protection,because it will become a simple text file,and the 127.0.0.1 entries contained in it will be of no use,as far as I know.
uncle_fester
2009-03-22, 17:42
If you rename the Hosts file to Hosts.txt permanently,you will lose protection,because it will become a simple text file,and the 127.0.0.1 entries contained in it will be of no use,as far as I know.Three questions:
So what would happen if I just turn off the "DNS Client" service through services.msc?
What effect would that have on my browsing the internet?
What effect would it have on Spybot's hosts file protection?
Thanks...
Some people disable the DNS client service when using a large hosts file,but mainly just to prevent slowdowns.
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm#Note
Please make sure you read the editor's note,though.This one:
Editors Note: The above instructions are intended for a single (home-user) PC. If your machine is part of a "Domain", check with your IT Dept. before applying this work-around. This especially applies to Laptop users who travel or bring their work machines home. Make sure to reset the Service (if needed) prior to connecting (reboot required) to your work Domain ...
The eldergeek lists this service as not needed,and recommends it be disabled:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/dns_client.htm
Though other sites suggest you just set it to Manual.
Please also read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_DNS#The_effects_of_running_the_DNS_Client_service
If you did decide to set the DNS Client Service to manual or disabled,it should not effect you browsing the internet,and Spybot's hosts file protection should still work.
Your operating system is XP?
uncle_fester
2009-03-22, 21:45
Some people disable the DNS client service when using a large hosts file,but mainly just to prevent slowdowns.
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm#Note
Please make sure you read the editor's note,though.This one:
The eldergeek lists this service as not needed,and recommends it be disabled:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/dns_client.htm
Though other sites suggest you just set it to Manual.
Please also read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_DNS#The_effects_of_running_the_DNS_Client_service
If you did decide to set the DNS Client Service to manual or disabled,it should not effect you browsing the internet,and Spybot's hosts file protection should still work.
Your operating system is XP?Yes, it's XP
Ok,thanks.It helps for me to know that,if you have further questions.